Robert Chilingirian – THE INTERVIEW
Hello Robert, thank you for taking the time to talk to us today.
Hello Harout, it’s always a pleasure chatting with you.
You have had a long and very successful career. You are what most people consider a legend in the industry. What keeps you motivated?
Thanks very much. I am humbled and blessed. You see, I travel the world and I’m constantly in contact with my fans. The thing that motivates me the most is when someone compliments my music and tells me that it has really made a positive change in their life.
You started out as an accomplished guitarist and musician, working with many other singers and bands, what was the reason to venture into singing? Was it an accident or did you always want to sing?
To be quite honest with you, I had never ever imagined that I would one day, shift into singing. But the truth is, after being the band leader/soloist and musical director for other front acts, I felt that I was not being appreciated as much as I would have liked to be, and I had significantly more knowledge about music than many of them, so one day, after an argument with one of the singers I used to tour with, I suddenly decided that I would try to sing….so I had a little 8 track tape recorder in a little studio at home…I went in there, and recorded a song with my own vocals on it…I let my family and close friends listen to it, and they all liked the sound/style, I kinda did too…and that was it…I decided to do my own vocal solo album as a singer/composer …that was in 1988….and the rest is history.
I think your fans are all glad you took that leap! When performing for many years, Most singers become stranded in a particular style, you have managed to always stay current, what do you think sets you apart from the normal Armenian entertainer?
I try to stay current with today’s sound, music and life in general. I always upgrade my home studio (where I record/produce all my music) with up to date sound libraries and all the latest technology. I also feel what the people are going through at certain times in their lives. In addition to my fans of many years, I pay close attention to the youth, I always try to add more fans to my fan base, and try to get them attracted to my music…and that can only happen if you have an up to date sound, and think “today”…not 20 years ago!
What sets me apart from others is the fact that I play several instruments, I’m a pretty decent guitarist/bouzoukist…and I compose lots of different types of music for myself and other producers in the industry.
This is a two part question, first of all do you write your own lyrics and music? and if yes, do you write songs for yourself and hope your fans appreciate it or do you write songs that you think your fans want to hear?
Yes, I do write all my original compositions…as for the lyrics, I write most of them (the crazy, right to the point ones) I also have some lyricists that write for me sometimes. I never write a song because that’s what people want to hear…every song that I write is from a real life situation that either I have lived through, or someone else close to me has, and I have felt it on my skin….Most of my fans feel and appreciate that….it’s real, and comes from the soul….
Those are the best ones! You’re not afraid to touch on subjects that are not common, for example in your “Change Is Good” album you have songs on there that deal with bad debt, women who use men, plastic surgery and so on. I think this is what ultimately sets you apart from other Armenian singers, your ability to talk about subjects that others don’t go near. What made you decide to go this route and were you ever fearful that it would not be well received by the Armenian public.
Well, I have always been known for the whole “kef…yalla…. party…hoppa…” type thing, which I love, and do pretty well, but in the last few years, I wanted to kinda show my other side too. The serious and deeper side… I really don’t think about the consequences when I write….I write what I feel and hope people can relate to it…Most of the time they can, because it’s from real life situations.
Do songs come to you in unusual ways and places? or is it more deliberate where you make a decision to write something?
Both, I sometimes go through an experience and a melody comes to me right then and there, or the situation stays with me, I decide that I am going to write something about that particular experience, what I felt, what I saw, how people reacted etc….and sometimes, I could be somewhere, and a melody just comes to me…thanks to technology, I probably have 1000s of songs that I have recorded in my Blackberry…(I use some, and I save some in my musical safe…my Blackberry!!!haha)
haha, yes, the good ol trusty Blackberry! 
Do you generally write the lyrics first, or do you start with the music and melodies?
I usually write the melody first, but most of the time, it’s tied to a subject or a certain situation….like, whatever happened, kind of leads me to write a certain melody related to that particular experience.
What, in your opinion, makes a song truly memorable and special?
I think people really can tell the difference between a regular “light weight” song, that was just written for the sake of writing, to make everybody get up and dance and be merry and whatever….as opposed to a song that came from the soul, people might not exactly know what it is that’s different about the deeper song…but they just hear the depth in it…That’s what makes a song original and sticks in people’s minds more, because they can probably live with it, when it’s playing.
What song from your set do you enjoy performing the most?
Several ones….I always get more into the newer ones when I first put an album out…Like now, I am totally into: “Polors Nuyn Hayn Enk”, “Hey Mambo”, “N4r R4n”, “Badme Mayrig” and “Harsanik E Hey”….But I love all my originals, they always take me back to the time and feelings that I was living with when I was writing a certain song.
What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?
Producing, arranging and finally mixing the whole thing….after months of hard work.
Who were your biggest musical influences growing up and why?
My influences were guitarists at first, because I was thinking I would be a jazz guitarist, so I loved people like, John Mclaughlin, Paco De Lucia, Alan Holdsworth, Wes Montgomery and many more in that category…then I started listening to lots of classical, (which I still do), Liszt, Chopin, Beethoven and Stravinsky. But I like all types of good quality music…(no rabiz, no rap, no country…and no ala turka)
That’s very interesting, most people would not know that about you. What’s the best advice you can give an artist who is trying to make it in the music business, specially in the Armenian Market?
That’s a good question…my advice would be: Create your own , be a leader, never a follower!
Great advice! Are you open to working with other artists or producing music for other artists?
About 3 years ago, I started composing/producing music for other people in the music/movie industry, I worked on a film score last year titled “Subject I love you”. I am currently working on another full feature film score as we speak. And yes, I like working with other artists as well (when time allows it).
Last year, you created a couple of tracks in Armenian that had a Latin feel to the music, You submitted the album and eventually won “Best Latin Artist” at the Hollywood Music Awards, what went through your mind when you won that award.
I never thought I would win, I was competing against dozens of Latin based artists and I won…I was shocked, I really was, never expected it…But you know what man…It’s a good song, right from the soul…I guess they felt that, and gave me the award…That was really a very happy moment in my life..It was like…that one announcement that lasted 60 seconds…paid back for all the years that I worked so hard in trying and trying and trying…..
Your new CD “A Musicians Life” is an instrumental CD full of this latin and world music vibe. We heard the album and want to congratulate you on another wonderful creation, this album is packed full of emotion, energy and exotic sounds, is it safe to say that this album describes Robert Chilingirian’s persona?
Absolutely…This is me 100%…I wrote, played, and arranged what I felt…no boundaries, no limits, no thinking about what will work or what won’t…The compositions came to me and I recorded them…
After 20 CD’s, over 60 music videos and performances in hundreds of shows, how do you characterize your own career?
Well, I am very thankful to my fans and the fact that they have supported my music throughout the years…But heck…I have a long ways to go…I am working on stuff all the time…day and night in the studio!
Yeah, at the rate your going, I see no slowing down, can’t wait to hear the new stuff! What would you be doing if music was not part of your talent? What other career path would you have taken?
I can’t see myself doing anything else…I really can’t…But I if had to choose another career, it would be in medicine.
Ok, let’s get a bit personal with some fun facts. Without re-arranging, What’s the top 5 tracks you have on your ipod or mp3 player right now?
Top 5 tracks…hmmm….Honestly, I don’t listen to other artists right now, because it takes away from my own ideas and indirectly might influence me… When I am in my car, I listen to Kiss FM for a few minutes, to hear the “big sounds of today” but most of the time I listen to 91.5, the classical station with very low volume…to kind of clear my head.
Who and when was the first big named act you saw in concert?
The first act that I saw live was Ray Charles in Lebanon, (at the Melaab Chamoun Stadium in Beirut) I love him very much…very soulful artist.
Oooh, I never knew he performed in Beirut, that’s awesome! How many languages do you speak fluently?
I speak 4 languages fluently and 3 other ones like 60%
Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
When I’m on a high, I am all the way up in the skies and past..but when I am on a low, I push myself to the lowest point ever.
That’s sounds deep! What’s Your favorite past-time (hobby)?
My hobby is and has always been my profession… music, music and everything that’s related to music…
Your favorite T.V. show right now?
Sorry, but I hardly watch any TV, I like good movies though!
Ok, so who are your favorite movie actors or actresses?
Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino and Robert Deniro.
Your favorite type of food?
Favorite type of food would be anything extra spicy and exotic, Asian, middle eastern, Indian, and my own creations of anything with 10 different hot sauces, and 6 different chili peppers!
Wow, I thought I liked it hot! lol, Where do you see Robert Chilingirian in 5 years?
I think and hope that I would be doing what I’ve loved doing all my life…but hopefully crossed over into other markets that I have always tried to get into.
Well, thank you Robert for giving us your time. We wish you nothing but continued success in everything you strive to do.
My pleasure, Like I said in the beginning of our conversation, it’s always great chatting with talented people such as yourself…Also on that note, I want to congratulate you on the great web site, radio station, and the beautiful idea that you have created…”Armenian Pulse” I loved it from the first minute that I logged on to the page…Great work, and thanks for the opportunity.
Thank you very much, means a lot coming from you. All our best to you from Armenian Pulse!
You can catch Robert’s songs on Armenian Pulse Radio and also buy his music through cdbaby and itunes!
You can also visit Robert at FACEBOOK | MYSPACE | WEBSITE
The latest Music Video by Robert is titled “Badme’ Mayrig” – dedicated to The Armenian Genocide of 1915
GREAT INTERVIEW THANK YOU HAROUT FOR THE BIG OPPORTUNITY ABOUT THE INTERVIEW WITH INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR ROBERT CHILINGIRIAN.
I ENJOYED READING THE WHOLE INTERVIEW CHAT IN A LOUD VOICE, MY GREETINGS TO YOU AND TO ROBERT C.
WISHING HIM BEST OF LUCK AND SUCCESS FOR EVERY SINGLE UPCOMING PROJECTS, PLANS AND SURPRISES HE IS PREPARING TO ALL HIS FANS AND LOVERS.
GOD BLESS.
REGARDS FROM LEBANON
great interview, ive known roberts stuff for years
he has some great songs
hayde kale, kale, kale, yasssouuu Robert
awesome interview yeghpayr… keep up the great work you do…;-) shad merci!~
Great interview guys…I really enjoyed it..Harout your questions are always to the point and completely in tune with what a fan would ask…and Robert, you are always as honest as possible with your answers..
There is alot of talent and perfection on this page….Good luck to both of you on your future projects…
Much love and God bless…
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Stand up and give up a great YES! if you are driving don’t..This interview brings the best out of Robert Chlingirian (RC). Absolutely brilliant.. you have graced us with this interview. Robert had a vision, purpose and goal in his life that I see.. and hope that the new generation visualize, hear and have the faith that they can too. You are helping people to have a lush, successful and loving life. Everything that I read came from Robert’s heart of hearts (soul). Robert believed in himself and that was the secret of winning and becoming the person you are now. YOu know where you are and where you are going. I congratulate you Harout you are a great interviewer. You made me stop and look where I am and where I am heading. God Blessed you both and the Armenian young fans who are here to support your show and Robert in his way to success. Thank you for the opportunity and best wishes in the rest of your lives.
Sincerely,
Lela Ashkarian
Florida Keys, Florida
Author, The Crossing/Real Estate Consultant/Life Success Coach
To your happiness and Success.
Harout, i always love your interviews, i love Robert, thank you so much
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it
I love Robert, he is such an amazing person!
very nice interfview Robert jan, we love you in France ~;;
thanx harout good interview robert jan pavagan keden ko masen hema thanx..love you